CONSTITUTION OF THE
TAIWANESE ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICA
GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER
(Revised in 1994)

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this
organization shall be the
TAIWANESE ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICA, GREATER
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER and
will be called TAAGP in the
following pages of this
constitution and bylaws.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSES

The purpose of this
organization shall be:

1. To contribute talents and
resources of Taiwanese
people for the betterment of
community and social
services for all Taiwaneses
in greater Philadelphia and
for local communities at
large.
2. To promote, sponsor and
encourage programs which are
designed to encourage its
member to foster American
democracy and to perform
their duties to the United
States of America .
3. To identify the various
needs in education and
culture preservation for the
future generations to
cultivate a wholesome
identity as Taiwanese
American.
4. To coordinate the
cooperative efforts of all
Taiwanese organizations for
the improvement of mutual
understanding and concerns
on human rights and human
services.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership of this
organization shall be
composed of all Taiwanese
ancestry or anyone at least
18 years of age who is
committed to the purposes of
Association. Every member
should agree to abide by the
constitution and bylaws of
this organization.

ARTICLE IV: COUNCIL

A council will be
established. This Council
shall be called "The
Steering Council".

ARTICLE V: MEETING

Sec. 1. The highest
governing body of the
organization shall be the
membership meeting. Through
duly called membership
meeting, the membership
shall have the power and
responsibility to amend the
constitution and bylaws, to
set guidelines for the
organization and to elect as
well as dismiss steering
council members in
accordance with the bylaws.
Sec. 2. There shall be one
stated membership meeting
annually. This annual
meeting shall be called the
"General Membership Meeting
of Taiwanese Association of
America, Greater
Philadelphia Chapter".
Sec. 3. The said annual
meeting shall be held in the
month of November or if
necessary October.
Sec. 4. Special membership
meeting may be called for
by: (a) the President of the
organization, (b) a written
petition by at lease five
(5) Steering Council
members, or (c) a written
petition by at least 25% of
the membership.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS

Sec. 1. The constitution of
this organization shall be
subject to amendment at the
annual membership meeting.
Sec. 2. Notification of
proposed amendments must be
submitted at least three
months before the annual
membership meeting to the
president of the
organization with a written
petition by at least five
(5) Steering Council members
or a written petition by at
least 20% of the membership.
Sec. 3. The president shall
appoint a constitution
amendment committee within
one month to consider the
proposed amendment.
Sec. 4. The constitution
amendment committee shall
notify the members of any
proposed amendment at least
15 days before the annual
membership meeting.

[2008 Added Amendment]
We have passed a resolution
to amend the TAAGP
Constitution By-Law
yesterday (December 7,
2008).
The total eligible votes
(One vote for one Annual Fee
paid family) was 66.
A total of 52 votes approved
the proposed amendment.
Attached please find the
Constitution in its entirety
with the revised version of
the By-Law.
Please note that the main
body of the Constitution
remains intact as its 1994
version.
Only the By-Law was amended.
According to the By-Law,
Five (5) replacing Steering
Council members were
successfully elected on this
Annual Meeting on
December 7, 2008;
They are Bert Lee, Powen
Wang, Charles Jing Yang, Jii
Shieh, and Mei-Yean Tsai
Lee.
They will serve a two (2)
years term starting January
1, 2009 through December 31,
2010.

BY LAWS OF THE TAIWANESE
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER
(Revised in 2008)

ARTICLE I: FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of TAAGP
shall start on January 1st
and end on December 31st of
each year.

ARTICLE II: COMPOSITION OF
THE STEERING COUNCIL

The Steering Council of
TAAGP shall be composed of
seven (7) to nine (9)
members. Two additional
non-voting members may be
appointed by the President
to serve as the Secretary or
the Treasurer but subjected
to confirmation of the
Steering Council.

ARTICLE III: DUTIES OF THE
STEERING COUNCIL

Sec. 1. The Steering Council
shall administer all
policies adopted by the
TAAGP and act for TAAGP in
between Membership meetings.
Sec. 2. The Steering Council
shall be responsible for the
agenda and program of the
annual membership meeting.
Sec. 3. President
(a) The President shall
preside over all membership
and Steering Council
Meetings.
(b) The President shall be
the official representative
to all related Taiwanese
organizations, and to all
other bodies. The President
may designate
representative(s).
(c) The president may
appoint all committee
chairpersons as necessary.
(d) The President shall
submit an annual report
covering the year's
activities to the Steering
Council. Such report shall
be made available prior to
the time of annual
membership meeting.
Distribution of said report
shall be determined by the
Steering Council.
Sec. 4. President-Elect
(a) The President-Elect
shall, in the absence of the
President or in case of
his/her inability to act,
perform all duties of the
President.
(b) The President-Elect
shall be the official
parliamentarian at all
meetings.
(c) The President-Elect
shall automatically become
the President at the
expiration of the term as
defined in Article V of this
BY-LAW or upon the
resignation of the preceding
President.
Sec. 5. Secretary
(a) The Secretary will keep
the official minutes of all
meetings.
(b) The secretary will
prepare the official agenda
for all meetings; such
agenda shall be distributed
two weeks prior to said
meetings.
(c) The Secretary will
conduct all correspondence
of the Association as
directed by the President.
(d) The Secretary will
maintain an electronic
membership directory.
Sec. 6. Treasurer
(a) The Treasurer will
receive and deposit all
monies accrued to the
Association.
(b) The Treasurer will
disburse funds in payment of
vouchers previously budgeted
and approved by the
President, Non-budgeted
items exceeding the amount
specified by the Steering
Council must be approved by
the Steering Council prior
to payment.
(c) The Treasurer will
submit a financial report at
the annual membership
meeting or any time as
directed by the President.
(d) The annual Treasurer's
report will be audited by a
committee appointed by the
President.
Sec. 7. Committee
Chairpersons
(a) Committee Chairpersons
will assist the President to
organize and carry our all
activities, such as:
Newsletter, Sports, Host
Family, Public Relation,
Civil Rights, Membership
Development and Means and
Ways, etc.
(b) Committee Chairpersons
will submit a report of
activities at all the
Steering Council Meetings.
(c) Committee Chairpersons
will submit an annual report
covering the year's
activities to the Steering
Council. Such report shall
be made available prior to
the time of the annual
membership meeting.

ARTICLE IV: ELECTIONS

Sec. 1. Qualifications for
the candidates for the
Steering Council must meet
the following requirements:
(a) A due paid active
members of TAAGP for at
least one full year.
(b) Participation in the
TAAGP activities for at
least two times in the
preceding year.
Sec. 2. Two months prior to
the Annual Membership
Meeting, the Steering
Council members shall elect
among themselves three
members as the nominating
committee. The nominating
committee shall present a
slate of candidates to the
Steering Council at least
one month before the Annual
Membership meeting.
Sec. 3. Nomination(s) from
the floor at the annual
membership meeting are
permitted.
Sec. 4. All persons
qualified under Article III,
MEMBERSHIP, shall have one
vote. No proxy votes are
permitted.
Sec. 5. The incoming
President shall call the
Steering Council Meeting to
elect among themselves a
President-Elect before the
beginning of the fiscal year
or within one month of the
resignation of the preceding
President or
President-Elect.

ARTICLE V: TERM OF THE
STEERING COUNCIL

Sec. 1. Members of the
Steering Council shall serve
on a two year rotating
system. The Council member
who is elected as the
President-Elect during the
second year term may serve a
total of up to five years.
Sec. 2. The term of the
President and
President-Elect shall be one
year but can be extended for
one more year if approved by
the Steering Committee. The
term may be extended to
cover the unexpired period
created by the resignation
of the immediate past
President or
President-Elect.

ARTICLE VI: VACANCIES

Sec. 1. A vacancy through
resignation, will only be
recognized by a written
statement by the individual
affected. Three unexcused
consecutive absence by a
member shall be sufficient
reason for that position to
be declared vacant by the
Council.
Sec. 2. Valid vacancies will
be filled by the Steering
Council. Such person shall
serve the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VII: QUORUMS

Sec. 1. Quorum for a
Steering Council meeting
shall be a simple majority
of its member.
Sec. 2. Quorum for a
membership meeting shall be
at least three times the
number of the Steering
Council membership.

ARTICLE VIII: SUPPORT

Sec. 1. TAAGP shall seek
financial support from
various institutions for its
programs.
Sec. 2. Each member
committed to the purpose of
the Association shall pay
membership fee in the amount
determined by the Steering
Council.

ARTICLE IX: PARLIAMENTARY
AUTHORITY

Parliamentary Authority will
take precedence at all
meetings in this order:

The amendment of this Bylaws
may be proposed by a written
petition by at least four
(4) Steering Council members
or a written petition by at
least 15% of the membership
and approved by a majority
vote at the membership
meeting.